LET’S LOOK AT OUR SECOND BENCHMARK TEST!! An Explanation... from Mrs. King 8th Language Arts
BENCHMARK TESTING Educational assessment is a key issue in the movement to reform education and improve student achievement. Standards and benchmarks are measurable descriptors of student knowledge and expected student learning outcomes based on grade level. They are among the tools used in rating the effectiveness of teachers and schools.
WARNING: BENCHMARK TESTING IS UNPOPULAR WITH MANY TEACHERS BECAUSE OF THE CLASSROOM TIME THAT IT TAKES TO ADMINISTER THE TESTS. (MRS. KING HAS A FEELING IT IS UNPOPULAR WITH SOME STUDENTS AS WELL.) HOWEVER, THIS BENCHMARK TEST IS VERY IMPORTANT! (AND HERE’S WHY!)
TESTING… Benchmark testing brings accountability to schools by measuring student learning against quantifiable standards. Teachers use the results of benchmark tests to modify their instruction as needed and to prepare students for end-of-the-year standardized achievement tests. Students can use the results to determine what they have mastered and what they need to work on between now and TCAP testing time.
EIGHTH GRADERS… Let’s look at your FIRST BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS…
LA 1 (A.K.A. RLA 3-4) YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB ON LITERATURE. YOU DID A GOOD JOB ON LOGIC. 7 STUDENTS SCORED ADVANCED. 18 STUDENTS SCORED PROFICIENT. 5 STUDENTS SCORED BASIC. 1 STUDENT SCORED BELOW BASIC. AREAS TO WORK ON FOR YOUR CLASS ARE: LANGUAGE & VOCABULARY COMMUNICATION / MEDIA WRITING / RESEARCH INFORMATION *WE WILL REVIEW THE MOST MISSED QUESTIONS DURING THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
LA 2 (A.K.A. RLA 5-6) YOU DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON LITERATURE, FOLLOWED BY LOGIC. 12 STUDENTS SCORED BASIC. 7 SCORED BELOW BASIC. AREAS TO WORK ON FOR YOUR CLASS ARE: LANGUAGE & VOCABULARY COMMUNICATION / MEDIA WRITING / RESEARCH INFORMATION *WE WILL REVIEW THE MOST MISSED QUESTIONS DURING THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
LA 3 (A.K.A. RLA 7-8) YOU DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON LITERATURE, FOLLOWED BY LOGIC. 11 STUDENTS SCORED PROFICIENT. 15 STUDENTS SCORED BASIC. 4 STUDENTS SCORED BELOW BASIC. AREAS TO WORK ON FOR YOUR CLASS ARE: LANGUAGE & VOCABULARY COMMUNICATION / MEDIA WRITING / RESEARCH INFORMATION *WE WILL REVIEW THE MOST MISSED QUESTIONS DURING THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
Now let’s see how you did on the second benchmark test!
LA 1 (A.K.A. HOMEROOM / PERIOD 3-4) YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB ON LITERATURE.* *ONLY 5 STUDENTS MISSED 1 OF THE 4 QUESTIONS ON LITERATURE! YOU DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON LOGIC.** 6 STUDENTS MISSED 3 OR 4; 15 MISSED 1 OF THE 4 QUESTIONS. 7 STUDENTS SCORED ADVANCED (SAME AS 1 ST BENCHMARK) 19 STUDENTS SCORED PROFICIENT. (+1 GAIN!) 3 STUDENTS SCORED BASIC. (2 LESS) 2 STUDENTS SCORED BELOW BASIC. +1 GAIN. AREAS TO WORK ON FOR YOUR CLASS ARE: LANGUAGE & VOCABULARY – (MORE AFTER SWAT, FEB.-APRIL) COMMUNICATION / MEDIA – (MORE IN MARCH / APRIL) WRITING / RESEARCH – WE’VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS!!! INFORMATION - & WORKING HARD ON THIS, TOO!!! *WE WILL REVIEW THE MOST MISSED QUESTIONS DURING THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
LA 2 (A.K.A. PERIOD 5-6) YOU DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON COMMUNICATION/MEDIA.* (11 SCORES 71% OR BETTER). YOU DID OKAY ON INFORMATION.** 2 STUDENTS SCORED PROFICIENT ! (+2!) 9 STUDENTS SCORED BASIC. (-3!) 9 SCORED BELOW BASIC. (+2) AREAS TO WORK ON FOR YOUR CLASS ARE: LANGUAGE & VOCABULARY COMMUNICATION / MEDIA WRITING / RESEARCH INFORMATION & LOGIC *WE WILL REVIEW THE MOST MISSED QUESTIONS DURING THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
LA 3 (A.K.A. PERIOD 7-8) YOU DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON INFORMATION. * *20 STUDENTS GOT ALL 4 CORRECT OR ONLY MISSED ONE. FOLLOWED BY LITERATURE.** **17 STUDENTS GOT ALL 4 CORRECT OR ONLY MISSED ONE. 9 STUDENTS SCORED PROFICIENT. (-2) 17 STUDENTS SCORED BASIC. (+2) 4 STUDENTS SCORED BELOW BASIC. (STAYED THE SAME) AREAS TO WORK ON FOR YOUR CLASS ARE: LANGUAGE & VOCABULARY – (FEB.-APRIL, AFTER SWAT) COMMUNICATION / MEDIA – (FEB.-MAR, AFTER SWAT) WRITING / RESEARCH – WE HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING ON THIS!!! LOGIC (WE WILL WORK ON THIS DURING APRIL’S BOOT CAMP) *WE WILL REVIEW THE MOST MISSED QUESTIONS DURING THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
Hold up Benchmark Test 2. We are going to start by going over the MOST MISSED QUESTIONS for ALL THREE CLASSES. Get ready!!!!
Go to page 7. What kind of question is #7? A. Reading: Informational Text B. Logic C. Writing & Research D. Communication & Media
#7. What does “least relevant” mean? So… which sentence does not focus on how the Great Pyramid was constructed?..... Did you need to re-read the passage to answer this question?
Go to page 16. What kind of question is #18? A. Reading: Informational Text B. Logic C. Writing & Research D. Communication & Media
Right! Writing & Research! Now… specifically, what type of question A. Vivid Words B. Thesis Statement C. Irrelevant Research Material D. Transition Words
#18. Scuba diving is a good sport. A. nice B. attractive C. thrilling D. pleasant
Go to page 18. What kind of question is #22? A. Reading: Informational Text B. Logic C. Writing & Research D. Communication & Media
Right! Writing & Research! Now… specifically, what type of question A. Vivid Words B. Thesis Statement C. Irrelevant Research Material D. Transition Words
#18. Scuba diving is a good sport. A. nice B. attractive C. thrilling D. pleasant
Go to page 21 and look at #34. What part of speech is being tested? A. Noun B. Pronoun C. Verb D. Other
What is WRONG with “A”? A. Jerome bought his new black and white puppy the metal food dish they needed.
What is WRONG with “B”? B. Micah brought its instruments for the afternoon rehearsal.
What is WRONG with “C”? C. Tessa and Kaliope asked their father for their permission to attend the dance.
What is RIGHT with “D”? D. Jenny and her friend took their lunches outside to eat in the fresh air.